Ex-Jim Clyburn aide aims to lead S.C. Dems

Jaime Harrison, a former top aide to Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), is announcing his candidacy Monday for chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party.

Harrison has already secured the endorsement of a slew of top South Carolina Democrats, including Clyburn, former Gov. Jim Hodges, likely 2014 gubernatorial candidate Vincent Sheheen and the last three state party chairs.

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Harrison, currently the first vice chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, would be the party’s first African-American chairman if he wins the top job at the state convention in May.

Republicans now dominate in the Palmetto State in both national and state elections; Democrats haven’t elected a governor since Hodges’ 1998 election, Clyburn is the only Democrat in the state’s congressional delegation and the state House and Senate are both controlled by Republicans.

But with the potential for contentious GOP primaries against incumbents Sen. Lindsey Graham and Gov. Nikki Haley, Democrats are holding out hope for a breakthrough in 2014.

Harrison said his first priority is to help a Democrat win the May 7 special congressional election to fill the seat vacated by the appointment of Sen. Tim Scott. It’s a traditionally safe Republican seat, but the nomination of scandal-tarred from Gov. Mark Sanford could entice national Democrats to play in the Charleston-anchored district.

More broadly, Harrison wants to rebuild the infrastructure of a party weakened by years of losses. His goal is to enact a “46 County Strategy” of establishing a solid local Democratic organization in every jurisdiction – a blueprint modeled on former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean’s “50 State Strategy.”

Harrison also wants to spend more time recruiting quality candidates up and down the ticket, building the sort of bench the party has lacked in recent years.

A Columbia, S.C. resident, Harrison, 37, currently works for the D.C.-based lobbying firm The Podesta Group.

He remains close to Clyburn, for whom he served as floor director and counsel. Harrison also worked as executive director of the House Democratic Caucus.

He grew up in Orangeburg, S.C. before graduating from Yale University and Georgetown Law School.